yalley



J. N. VALLEY.- Fglding Table.

No. 236,197. Patented'lan. 4,1881.

N. PETERs. PNOTO-UTHDYGRAPHER WASHINGTOM Dv Q UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN N. VALLEY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING TABLE.

' SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 236,197, datedJanuary 4, 1881.

Application filed November 14, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN N. VALLEY, of Jersey City, in the county ofHudson and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Folding Tables, of which the following is aspecification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap, light, andeasily-manipulated table, so constructed that its legs may beconveniently folded upon the under side of its top, in order that it mayoccupy a small compass when not in use or during transportation, andwhen desired may be immediately unfolded, braced, and ready for use.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of thevarious parts, as will I be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of myimproved folding table in position for use, with its top horizontal andpartly in section to show the construction. Fig. 2 is a plan of theunder side of the same when folded. Figs. 3 and 4 are sectional detailsrepresentingend and side views-the construction of the hinge connectingthe legs to the table-top.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several figures.

A is the top of the table, having attached to its under side a centralcross cleat or board, B, and two end cleats or boards, 0, parallel withthe cleat B.

D are the legs, rigidly interconnected at their upper ends in pairs bythe boards E, and having screwed into their upper ends the threadedshanks of angle-hooks F, by which they are pivoted to cast-metal lugs G,which latter have a horizontally-projecting extension, g, with avertical small shoulder or toe, g, on its end. To hinge each pair oflegs to the top A, the hooks F are first adjusted to bring theirhorizontal arms in juxtaposition to each other at suitable and equaldistances from the extreme upper ends of the legs D. The lugs Gare thenput on the hooks F and clamped in their proper positions by securing tothe top A the cleat 0, (previously out out, as in Fig. 4, to receivethe.lug,) the toes g preventing them from being slid out of place. Thecleat (l is curved at c to a radius equalto the distance from the centerof the pivot to the extreme end of the leg D, so that the cleat 0 willrest directly on the latter as well as be supported by the pivots whenthe table is unfolded. The legs are braced in position for use by thebraces H, pivoted together at their inner ends to and between two lugs,b, of the central cleat, B, and provided at their outer ends with jawsh, fitted to grasp the lower end of the board E, and locking the legsautomatically when the latter are swung into the vertical position bythe elastic force of the spiral springs I, each of which is attached,with one end in a socket or hole, h, to the brace, and with the otherend to the-under side of the top A. The holes or sockets h are toreceive the springs in order that the latter shall not be in the way offolding the braces H upon the top A.

In stead of the spiral springs I, other springs, such as those shown indotted lines I in Fig. 1, may be used, acting upon the under side of thebraces H.

To fold the table it is only necessary to depress the braces H until theboards E get out of the jaws h, and then swing the legs in direction ofarrow 2. To unfold, the legs are swung in the opposite direction untillocked in the jaws h.

I do not claim, broadly, the combination, with the hinged legs of afolding table, of pivoted spring-braces having end jaws to lock the legsin the upright position, for that, I am aware, was known before; butIclaim only the peculiar construction of the parts when in suchcombination.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent v 1. The combination, with the top A, having the endcleats, U, and central cleat, B, with lugs b b, of the folding legs D,provided with connecting-pieces E, braces H, pivoted together betweenthe lugs b and provided with the sockets h and jaws hyand spiral springsI, arranged in said socket-s at one end and secured to the cleat B attheir opposite ends, the whole constructed and arranged in the mannerand for the purpose set forth.

2. The lug Gr, having the horizontal extension 9, with toe g, incombination with the cleat O and top A, to serve as hinging-point forthe leg, substantially as specified.

JOHN N. VALLEY.

Witnesses A. W. ALMQVIST, G. SEDGWIGK.

